Battery problems

[Jan01]

Hi- our acid/lead batteries are shot. We will replace when our trip is over but in the mean time- when using a Honda 2200 generator only
1. Would dead batteries cause the 1000 watt microwave to not operate at full power?(No other power on ie. lights, tv etc)
2. Would this also cause the soft cell not to fire up the compressor for the ac.?

We wouldn’t use all these things at the same time.

Thanks for all your expertise!

[BayouBiker]

Bad batteries could be drawing up to 500 W from the generator through the converter so the microwave may struggle. The AC, water heater, refrigerator, furnace, and misc electronics all use 12V so they could all be flaky with bad batteries. Describe how bad are these batteries? Do they at least take a charge so the converter goes into 13.2 V absorption mode? If not, I would not wait. If one has a bad cell and the other is simply weak, disconnect the one with the shorted (bad) cell.

Edit: If they both have a dead cell, disconnect them both and connect the tow vehicle electrical connector to use the tow vehicle battery.

[Jan01]

Thanks much!

[jeffmc306]

Jan01, sorry to hear you’re having battery issues. For 2021, Airstream no longer includes flooded lead acid batteries in trailers because they got abused before the customer bought the trailer. Dealers will install them at time of delivery.

Now the good news!
You can take your batteries to ANY Interstate dealer and have them checked. I had two replaced in our 2018 Flying Cloud 23FB because they wouldn’t hold a charge. The local Interstate shop tested ours and found two cells had lower specific gravity than the rest. That indicates a failed cell.

Check for a local shop or have your Airstream dealer take care of it. Going forward, check your water levels frequently (use distilled water to top them off). Don’t draw them down below 50% of capacity. Take them out over the winter or add a solar charger while in storage.

Good luck!

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by Jan01

Hi- our acid/lead batteries are shot. We will replace when our trip is over but in the mean time- when using a Honda 2200 generator only
1. Would dead batteries cause the 1000 watt microwave to not operate at full power?(No other power on ie. lights, tv etc)
2. Would this also cause the soft cell not to fire up the compressor for the ac.?

We wouldn’t use all these things at the same time.

Thanks for all your expertise!

You don’t supply sufficient information to adequately answer your question.
This is because the term “dead battery” is not defined. That phrase can mean anything from a battery with low capacity to a battery with a completely open circuit and unable to be detected by the charger.... and all kinds of conditions in-between.
For example, if your “dead” battery holds no or low charge but “tops off” quickly (because it has no capacity) to a healthy-appearing 13.7 volts.... in that case your little generator’s capacity will virtually ALL be available for your microwave, AC, etc. (because that low-capacity battery appears to be fully charged.)
If, on the other hand, your “dead” battery never achieves what falsely appears to be a full-charge and continues to soak-up your gen’s output ... then the amount being absorbed uselessly by your battery will not be available to the trailer’s accessories.

It’s unlikely you are equipped to determine the type of failure your dead-battery is experiencing without taking it in to be tested... and if you do that you might as well go ahead and replace it with a new battery.... and your problem disappears completely.
That’s what I recommend....do it now, not after your trip is over,.... if for no other reason... your trailer’s emergency break-away braking system depends on a healthy battery.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Jan01

Hi- our acid/lead batteries are shot. We will replace when our trip is over but in the mean time- when using a Honda 2200 generator only
1. Would dead batteries cause the 1000 watt microwave to not operate at full power?(No other power on ie. lights, tv etc)
2. Would this also cause the soft cell not to fire up the compressor for the ac.?

We wouldn’t use all these things at the same time.

Thanks for all your expertise!

Yes...if the batts are in fact compromised, the converter/charger may be sending a large portion of it's output in an effort to re-charge.
Flip the converter breaker off and see if all is good.

Good Luck..

Bob
🇺🇸

[OTRA15]

If one battery needs replacing, you should replace both batteries IMO.

[Jan01]

Thank you everyone for your help with my battery situation. Needless to say we are having two new batteries installed. I certainly do appreciate all your expertise!

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the update.